Comparative life table of Aphis pomi (Hemiptera: Aphididae) on two host plants Malus pumila L. and Chaenomeles japonica under laboratory conditions

Life table parameters of Aphis pomi DeGeer (Hemiptera: Aphididae) were determined on two host plants: apple (Malus pumila L.) and flowering quince (Chaenomeles japonica Lindl.). This study was carried out under laboratory conditions (25 ± 1 ºC and RH of 70 ± 5 % and a photoperiod of 16:8 h (L: D). The survivorship from first instar nymphs to adult was very close in M. pumila and C. japonica. The longevity of A. pomi was 8. 1 ± 0. 458 and 9. 65 ± 0. 412 days and the fecundity of female was 37. 25 ± 2. 198 and 32. 9 ± 1. 802 nymphs on M. pumila and C. japonica، respectively. Peaks of reproductive value occurred at ages of 8 and 9 days when reared on M. pumila and C. japonica، respectively. The intrinsic rate of increase (r) on M. pumila was higher than that on C. japonica، as it was 0. 396 ± 0. 015 on M. pumila and 0. 329 ± 0. 006 day-1 on C. japonica. The mean generation time (T) was 9. 13 ± 0. 35 and 10. 62 ± 0. 18 days، on M. pumila and C. japonica، respectively. The results showed that the two closely related host plants had significant influence on life table parameters of A. pomi and the aphid showed a better performance on M. pumila than on C. japonica. These results indicated that M. pumila is more suitable for A. pomi، resulting in a higher reproductive performance.